Archbishop Elden Curtiss of Omaha, Neb., sent written rebukes to
two Catholics who in letters to the local newspaper had criticized his decision
to reassign a priest accused of viewing Internet child pornography.

To Jeanne Bast, an 80-year-old mother of 11 and a retired teacher
at Catholic grade schools, Curtiss wrote: I am surprised that a woman
your age and with your background would write such a negative letter in the
secular press against me without any previous dialogue. You should be ashamed
of yourself! Basts letter appeared in the March 13 issue of the
Omaha World-Herald.

The archbishop also told Bast, The church has enough trouble
defending herself against non-Catholic attacks without having to contend with
disloyal Catholics.

In a letter to Frank Ayers, 58, whose letter was published in the
March 9 World-Herald, Curtiss said, Any Catholic who uses the
secular media to air complaints against the leadership of the church, without
any dialogue with that leadership, is a disgrace to the church.

The archbishop concluded both of his letters by instructing the
recipient to say a Hail Mary for him for your penance. The letters
were copied to Basts and Ayers pastors.

The Omaha World-Herald learned of the letters and contacted
Bast and Ayers, who confirmed the contents.

The letters that provoked Curtiss admonishments had
criticized his handling of the case of Fr. Robert Allgaier, who has been
charged with attempted possession of child pornography. According to the
World-Herald, Allgaier was sent for counseling and removed from high
school teaching duties in early 2001 after the archbishop learned he had viewed
child pornography on an office computer at a Norfolk, Neb., parish where he was
assistant pastor. Then in June 2001, Allgaier was transferred to St. Gerald
Parish in Ralston, where he taught religion at St. Joan of Arc-St. Gerald
Middle School.

The archbishop removed Allgaier from St. Gerald in February just
before authorities brought charges against the priest, who has pleaded not
guilty. In a statement, Curtiss said that psychologists and counselors had
indicated that Allgaier was no threat to children.

In his letter to the World-Herald, Ayers, a parishioner at
St. Gerald, questioned the assertion that children of the parish were in no
danger, and called on the archdiocese to be forthcoming with the information it
has about priests accused of deviant behavior. Archbishop Curtiss should
realize that these are our children, he said. We will decide
whether we want to take the chance.

Curtiss wrote to Ayers that he would be willing to discuss the
contents of Ayers public letter and told him to make an appointment with
his secretary. However, Ayers -- who at first thought the letter was a hoax --
told NCR that he hasnt yet followed up on that offer. He said he
would prefer the archbishop meet with the parishioners of St. Gerald Parish,
who expressed this desire to an archdiocesan representative who met with them
March 12.

I dont think he owes me a personal apology, but he
does need to meet with people, Ayers said, because he seems totally
out of touch with people in the archdiocese.

In her letter, Bast said that Curtiss had shown bad
judgment and that Allgaier should have been relieved of both his priestly
and teaching duties immediately. Archbishop Curtiss did a disservice to
the people of the archdiocese and owes them a public apology for not being
truthful and forthright about this problem from the very beginning, she
wrote.

Bast told NCR she sent the letter to the
World-Herald because she didnt expect any results from sending it
to Curtiss. She said she felt sympathy for Allgaier, whose actions were wrong,
but who has not been accused of any misconduct with children. My issue is
with the archbishop, Bast said. Hes another one of these
bishops who just doesnt get it.

As for Curtiss response to her letter, Bast called it
very childish for a man in his position. Hes got more important
things to do I think.